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Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Cardinal Karl Josef Becker sees big problems for an agreement between the Vatican and the traditionalist SSPX "to combine both positions, that's difficult," the Jesuit said in an interview with the Cologne diocesan church newspaper on Sunday. He has worked as a consultant to the CDF during the negotiations between the SSPX. Pope Benedict XVI in mid-March asked the SSPX to clarify by April 15 their position and to avoid a breach with Rome.

"We do not remove anything from Catholicism - but the others I must also try to understand, "said Becker He referred to a statement of the founder of the SSPX, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre that Pius XII (1939-1958).." all the teaching and discipline in the Catholic Church laid down "and" there is nothing more to change or renew". If a Lefebvrist believes this, then the conversation between the Vatican and SSPX does not make sense. Someone behaving differently was faced with the dilemma: "How do I relate to the founder of my Fraternity? " In this, he can see the big problem for the Society, said Becker. The Jesuit came from Cologne and was for many years professor at the Gregorian University in Rome, being made Cardinal in February.

Becker continued that the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965 ) was even after 50 years still not properly understood. "For it is a council of such a novelty that in the end, even the bishops were not quite clear," said the Cardinal. The previous councils had spoken to Catholics, the Second Vatican to Christians and all people, regardless of whether they believe or not believe, or to what religion they belong. "What this means in the assessment of conciliar statements means seems so far to have not been carefully considered," said Becker. To discover the core of the council, these texts must be read taking account of opinions of theologians. Today, however, few people access the documents in their original Latin.""I can only warn others not to judge the texts from the perspective of certain wishes, "said Becker. As far as the interpretation is concerned, the era in which the documents were written and the intentions of the Council Fathers should be taken into account.

Cathcon- incredible then that Vatican II is being used as a doctrinal touchstone, as Cardinal Becker admits the Council Fathers did not know who they were addressing. And if they did not know who they were addressing, it renders the messages of the Council at least a little suspect.